Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary
Interior and exterior incorporating 100 years of history
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary weaves the Phantom’s 100-year history into its interior and exterior.
In its 100-year history, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has been chosen by the world’s most influential people and has become renowned as the ultimate symbol of success and aesthetic sophistication. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of its debut in 2025, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the Phantom Centenary, a private collection limited to 25 units.
Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke department, a team of designers, engineers and craftsmen, has pooled all its skill and creativity to transform this private collection into a masterpiece, immersing itself in the world of Phantom from the 1920s to the present day, bringing together the spirit and identity of each generation in one car.
This time, the Phantom Centenary includes notable owners, key figures behind Rolls-Royce, the places where the Phantom was built, and events that defined each era. Through careful research, 77 hand-drawn motifs have been included, and the beautiful and detailed renderings have been used to create the Phantom Centenary.
The exterior features a new interpretation of the mascot from the original Phantom. A gold “Spirit of Ecstasy” statue is crowned to celebrate the centennial. The interior weaves the Phantom’s story with innovative craft techniques, including fabrics designed by couturiers, sketch-style embroidery, laser etching, 3D marquetry, gold leaf, and 3D inlays.
Chris Brownridge, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, expressed his delight at the completion of the Phantom Centenary.
“The Private Collection Phantom Centenary celebrates 100 years of the world’s most revered luxury car. This uncompromising work of art weaves the story of Phantom’s history and the people who have built its legend, using the exquisitely engineered Phantom VIII as its canvas.”
“For a century, the Phantom name has embodied all that Rolls-Royce is capable of, and we have introduced new techniques to honour that heritage. The culmination of more than 40,000 hours of work, this private collection will further cement Phantom’s status as a symbol of artistic possibility and historical significance.”
The shining gold “Spirit of Ecstasy”
A specially made 18k gold + 24k gold plated “Spirit of Ecstasy” is placed on the hood.
The Phantom Centenary’s exterior, evocative of the elegance of the black-and-white era of film, evokes the Golden Age of Hollywood, when the Phantom carried silver screen stars to premieres and became a symbol of the glamour of the era. The body is finished in a bespoke two-tone paint scheme that pays homage to the flowing silhouette of the 1930s Phantom.
The side sections are finished in Super Champagne Crystal over Arctic White, while the upper section is finished in Super Champagne Crystal over Black. This specially developed paint finish adds a metallic shimmer to the exterior by blending iridescent particles of crushed glass into the clear coat. Rolls-Royce paint specialists have replaced the traditional transparent flakes with champagne-coloured particles and doubled the amount to create a mesmerising depth.
The bonnet is crowned with a newly crafted “Spirit of Ecstasy.” Designers referenced the Spirit of Ecstasy that first appeared on the Phantom and crafted it as a homage to the iconic mascot. Cast from 18k gold for strength, it is then plated with 24k gold, resulting in a rust-resistant mascot.
The base is crafted from handmade white glass enamel and delicately engraved with the collection’s name. This beautiful mascot has been submitted to the Hallmarking & Assay Office in London and has been given the special “Hantom Centenary” certification.
The “RR” badge of honour, located on the front, rear and both sides of the vehicle, is now rendered in 24k gold and white enamel for the first time. The car is fitted with Phantom disc wheels, each with 25 lines, signifying that it is a limited edition of 25 units. Furthermore, the total number of lines on all four wheels is 100, celebrating the Phantom’s 100th anniversary.
A rear seat with a variety of scenes woven into it
The artwork on the rear seat tells a story in three layers: the first layer is a high-resolution printed background, the second layer is a series of Phantom models, and the third layer is an abstract representation of seven famous owners.
Paying homage to its predecessors, the Phantom Centenary’s interior combines textiles and leather, evoking the early days of Rolls-Royce, when the driver’s seat was finished in durable leather and the rear cabin was clad in luxurious fabrics.
The rear seats feature hand-woven Aubusson tapestry inspired by the 1926 Phantom of Love. The seat artwork spans 100 years of history in three layers. The first layer is a high-resolution printed backdrop depicting iconic locations and mementos from Phantom’s history, from Rolls-Royce’s original base on London’s Conduit Street to Henry Royce’s oil paintings of the South of France.
The second layer is also made up of high-resolution prints, depicting the greatest Phantoms of all time with meticulous detailing, while the third and top layer is embroidered, showcasing abstract depictions of seven notable owners representing each generation of the Phantom.
The fabric was created over a 12-month period in collaboration with a fashion atelier, which is supplying fabric to a brand outside of haute couture for the first time. A high-resolution printing process was devised using special inks and techniques specifically designed to meet Rolls-Royce’s exacting standards for durability, feel and aesthetics.
This time, artisans used Golden Sands yarn in sketchy, irregular stitches to create the illusion of thin, floating lines on the surface. Texture and depth were achieved by adding seashell yarn in dense stitches. This meticulous technique across the entire composition involves more than 160,000 stitches. The finished artwork is made up of 45 panels, which are carefully attached to follow the curves of the seat.
“Anthology Gallery” at the front desk
The front dashboard features an “Anthology Gallery” of 50 aluminum fins woven together like the pages of a book.
The front seat leather is laser-etched in a style reminiscent of a draftsman’s craft, based on hand-drawn sketches by the bespoke designer. The motif includes iconic details spanning 100 years, such as the Roger Rabbit rabbit design (a reference to the codename for Rolls-Royce’s 2003 relaunch) and “The Seagull”, the codename for the 1923 Phantom I prototype.
The centerpiece of the Phantom Centenary is the “Anthology Gallery,” made up of 50 3D-printed brushed aluminum fins woven together like the pages of a book. Each fin features engraved text that can be read from both sides, featuring tributes to the Phantom from the press over the past century.
Featuring the most intricate woodwork ever produced by a Rolls-Royce, which also took over a year to develop, the stained blackwood door panels depict scenes from Phantom’s iconic journeys, intersecting
maps curving roads, majestic landscapes, floral motifs and prototype sketches.
The rear door features the coastline of Le Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, where Sir Henry Royce spent his winters. The right front door features a view of West Wittering, Sir Royce’s summer residence, located eight miles from the current Home of Rolls-Royce. The left front door also depicts the epic 4,500-mile journey the first Phantom made across Australia from Perth on the west coast during its Goodwood days.
The front-mounted 6.75-liter V12 engine is fitted with a specially designed cover finished in Arctic White with 24-karat gold detailing, a nod to the Phantom’s legacy and success that continues to this day.
